Les Talens Lyriques play Handel

Filmed by Camera Lucida
A spectacular anthology of the most beautiful dramatic works by Georg Friedrich Handel (1685-1759), this concert invites you to plunge into the unique and bewitching universe of the Italian operas serias of the “caro sassone”. The program includes a refined selection of excerpts, ranging from Agrippina – a youthful work applauded at its premiere in Venice in 1709 – to the London masterpieces of Giulio Cesare and Tamerlano (1724), and to works of full maturity such as Alcina (1735), whose Act II ends with a “rare moment of dramatic intensity” according to Christophe Rousset (“Ombre pallide”).

Undisputed master of the genre, which he manages to impose in England, his adopted land, Handel surrounds himself with leading singers (Margherita Durastanti; Francesca Cuzzoni; the castrato Senesino, etc.) for whom he composes tailor-made roles, sublimating their talents.

In their honor, Christophe Rousset in turn brings together an exceptional cast: Sandrine Piau, a lifelong accomplice of Talens Lyriques, and Eve-Maud Hubeaux, who was recently admired under the Maestro’s direction in Agrippina and Giulio Cesare. Some instrumental gems from these great works will finally complete the program.

Program :

Solomon, HWV 67 (1749) excerpt
“Sinfonia”, arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Agrippina, HWV 6 (1709) extract
Aria ” Come nube che fugge dal vento ” (Eve-Maud Hubeaux)

Tamerlano, HWV 18 (1724) excerpts
Opening
Aria ” Cerco in vano ” (Eve-Maud Hubeaux)

Alcina, HWV 34 (1735) extracts
Accompagnato “Ah! Ruggiero crudel” & Aria “Ombre pallide” (Sandrine Piau)
Entries of dreams (pleasant, fatal, pleasant, frightened) and fights of fatal and pleasant dreams.

Giulio Cesare, HWV 17 (1724) excerpts
Opening
Aria “Piangerò la sorte mia” (Sandrine Piau)

Il Pastor fido, HWV 8 (1734) excerpt
Chaconne

Giulio Cesare, HWV 17 (1724) excerpts
Aria “Da tempeste il legno infranto” (Sandrine Piau)
Aria ” Priva son d’ogni conforto ” (Eve-Maud Hubeaux)
Duetto ” Più amabile beltà ” (Sandrine Piau and Eve-Maud Hubeaux)

Coproduction Les Talens Lyriques, with the support of the Cercle des Mécènes des Talens Lyriques.
Les Talens Lyriques are supported by the Ministry of Culture – DRAC Ile-de-France, the City of Paris and the Cercle des Mécènes. The Ensemble would like to thank its Great Patrons: the Annenberg Foundation / GRoW – Gregory and Regina Annenberg Weingarten, Mécénat Musical Société Générale and Mrs. Aline Foriel-Destezet.